Editing Proteus (section)

=== Proteus, prophetic sea-god ===
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According to [[Homer]] (''[[Odyssey]]'' iv: 365), the sandy island of [[Lighthouse of Alexandria|Pharos]] situated off the coast of the [[Nile Delta]] was the home of Proteus, the oracular Old Man of the Sea and herdsman of the sea-beasts. In the ''Odyssey'', [[Menelaus]] relates to [[Telemachus]] that he had been becalmed here on his journey home from the [[Trojan War]]. He learned from Proteus's daughter Eidothea ("the very image of the Goddess"), that if he could capture her father, he could force him to reveal which of the gods he had offended and how he could propitiate them and return home. Proteus emerged from the sea to sleep among his colony of [[Mediterranean monk seal|seals]], but Menelaus was successful in holding him, though Proteus took the forms of a [[lion]], a [[Serpent (symbolism)|serpent]], a [[leopard]], a pig, even of [[water]] or a [[tree]]. Proteus then answered truthfully, further informing Menelaus that his brother [[Agamemnon]] had been murdered on his return home, that [[Ajax the Lesser]] had been shipwrecked and killed, and that [[Odysseus]] was stranded on [[Calypso (mythology)|Calypso]]'s Isle [[Ogygia]].

According to [[Virgil]] in the fourth [[Georgics|Georgic]], at one time the bees of [[Aristaeus]], son of [[Apollo]], all died of a disease. Aristaeus went to his mother, [[Cyrene (mythology)|Cyrene]], for help; she told him that Proteus could tell him how to prevent another such disaster, but would do so only if compelled. Aristaeus had to seize Proteus and hold him, no matter what he would change into. Aristaeus did so, and Proteus eventually gave up and told him that the bees' death was a punishment for causing the death of [[Eurydice]]. To make amends, Aristaeus needed to sacrifice 12 animals to the gods, leave the carcasses in the place of sacrifice, and return three days later. He followed these instructions, and upon returning, he found in one of the carcasses a swarm of bees which he took to his [[apiary]]. The bees were never again troubled by disease.

There are also legends concerning [[Apollonius of Tyana]] that say Proteus incarnated himself as the 1st-century philosopher. These legends are mentioned in the 3rd-century biographical work ''[[Life of Apollonius of Tyana]]''.